What do I do with my hair? (Photos)

[Timetogetgone]

Ok, please be honest but not too brutal haha

I have been been growing out my hair dye for a few months. It was a VERY dark brown but the maintenance to keep the greys at bay was just exhausting (I’m 37, single mum and hate going to hair dressers)

My hair colour is truly a mess now haha

I want to grow out my natural colour but then also I think, I’m 37 should I just dye it a bit longer? Try and embrace my youth haha

I know there’s harsh lines, multiple colours.

what would you do? Box dye it again? Sit with it and let it grow out naturally or something else (baring in mind I don’t really trust hairdressers as I’ve have so many terrible experiences with them)

Josh Wood box dye, and the mumsnet home haircut. Sorted.

If you don’t dye it you need to cut it shoulder length imho - that’s if you want to look younger

I’m in the process of growing mine out, I’m almost there. After the next haircut the old dye should be gone. It’s taken two years and mine is in a bob, just above my shoulders, much shorter than yours. ( it does grow very slowly though)

I think you have to be patient and if you can find someone you trust have a shorter cut for a while, then grow it long again once the colour has gone.

Your hair is very long, so that will take a while! Would you be willing to cut it shorter to get rid of a lot of the dyed hair? Personally I'd just live with it if not... that's your hair colour, why try to change it? But perhaps a hairdresser might be able to somehow lighten the ends to blend it in a bit more? I haven't had my hair dyed in decades though, so I have no actual knowledge!

Have it cut a lot shorter and you’ll look a lot younger. I’d have highlights but I don’t think you need to.

I would cut it to just above your boob - sort of where that shaping starts.

Then I would either embrace the grey and have it done professionally so that it looks deliberately grey/silver with multi tones (very glam and pretty look) or else I would put a light brown/dark blonde semi on it. DO NOT put a permanent home dye on it. You will regret it. DO NOT go dark brown. Your skin tone won't carry it off properly.

I think it looks OK, maybe not gorgeous, but I'd LOVE hair that looks like that.

Have you considered just using a toner on it, to maybe try to tone the different sections into a similar shade although it would be varied throughout the sections?

Shrine toners mix into conditioner and fall somewhere between wash out and semi permanent depending on the depth of colour. On my hair, if I leave it on for less time, I'd say it washes out within a month. If I leave it on for a couple of hours, the colour is darker and lasts maybe up to 6-8 weeks.

My new growth is a stark difference- yours does not seem to be at all. Your greys haven’t taken over yet!
Ive dyed my hair since I was 19, as that’s when the greys started. I’m 63 and still do it - going natural can look great but you have to have the style to carry it off and for me I would just look like an old lady, but as I said I’m quite white now.
I think your greys aren’t so noticeable that I’d be rushing out to buy some dye today! In fact if you hadn’t pointed it out I might not have even noticed. Do you want to stop colouring it for good or do you want the greys to disappear? Have you considered going lighter? That may make the greys less noticeable but probably requires higher maintenance. I’d leave it for now, and also be guided by what your girlfriends say - if they start scrutinising your head while frowning then it’s dye time unless they are positive about your natural look. Also maybe consider a new cut with more texture? That may stop any demarcation between undyed and dyed hair.

I think it looks nice and would leave it as is. Box dye if you want to. No on the cutting shorter for me.

It looks fine! I really can't see any harsh lines.

What about a toning conditioner to blend the greys?

I think the length looks nice.

Oh my goodness absolutely do not cut that lovely long gorgeous hair! I'm incredibly jealous of those long locks! There are no rules to how long your hair should or shouldn't be depending on your age anymore.

I know you said, twice, no to a hairdresser, but can you do some research, ask online about some good ones, check out their social media pages see if you like something they have done on someone else? There will surely be a decent one in your area, there are also mobile hairdressers who can come to your house, if childcare is an issue or you hate being on display in a salon. A good, trained professional can talk you through colours that would suit you, colour and treatments that work for your lifestyle, how to maintain colour easily, and they can recommend in-between treatments to help with greys.

That hair is a blessing, I recommend trying to bite the bullet and talking to a professional to help keep it gorgeous!

Inspiration for you https://www.instagram.com/silverstrandsofglitter?igsh=cnFjZ2RiazR1dTRz

I’d grow it out. Just go with it, you must of been growing it out a while already. Box dye to natural with some grey will always have some organe banding, but your hair is lovely. I don’t think the banding is very noticeable. It will be lovely once grown out. I wouldn’t cut it - I’d focus on styling to make the grey look edgy.

I think a good cut would look great. It would look in so much better condition. You could try a toner, but they fade quickly. Wella illumina is good, gives a lovely healthy sheen.

I disagree. There is no need for it to be short. It could do with being a bit shorter for condition and splitting purposes but its definitely doesn't need to be short. Im 55 and my hair is still top of boob length

Ah thank you everyone! You’ve given me some good for thought but I think I won’t reach for the box dye just yet.

I’ll also do as some have suggested and research a hair dresser in my area who could tackle this!

I should have also said, a big chop is a no go for me. I lost a lot of my hair about 5 years ago, had a big chop but was bald in places.

My hair length is sacred to me haha (also my hair never grew before and it’s only taken five years for it grow back so I’m incredibly thankful)

But thank you so much everyone!

I would cut a few inches off and get rid of that tapered bit around the front. Then I would use a semi permanent level six or level seven light Brown to help tone and blend in the grey

When I stopped dyeing mine my hairdresser said to use shampoo for smoothing. Greys are a buggar to not look wirey! I'm 3 years in to no dyeing...

I think your hair looks lovely, I can’t see any harsh lines! I’d just have a trim and keep growing it out - then embrace the greys 😀

The problem is that you can see where the breakage occurs and if you dont cut it to that level then the splitting will move up the shaft and you will end up with damaged hair going all through way through the mid lengths and right up to the top.

It needs cutting up to the point at which the shaping starts. If you look at the photo you can see that you have breakage all the way around at that point.
If you cut it to here it will still be long but you will stop a lot of the splitting in its tracks and can then grow it down further from there. It will still look like long hair.

You don’t need to lop any off! It looks really good. Better than most, in fact. I’d probably focus on shine products and maybe a few strategic cool highlights, otherwise it’s perfect.